Saint Paddy’s Day is just around the corner and Memphis has plenty of ways to celebrate.

Join the staff of Elmwood Cemetery in the Chapel for a unique recognition of St. Patrick’s Day. The evening will begin with homemade Irish boiled dinner, beer, wine, and water. Next, they will offer a 45-minute seated presentation on the Irish and the Scots who rest at Elmwood and their lives. Seats must be reserved in advance. Tickets are $25 and the event is 21 and up.

The 45th Annual Silky O’Sullivan St. Patrick’s Day Parade will be held on Memphis’ historic Beale Street! Wear your green and bring the family for the city’s largest parade with bands, cars, dancers, floats and more.

Enjoy green beer, drink and food specials, and live music all day long! Some of their options include Guinness on draft, corned beef brisket and cabbage, crispy fish and chips, Irish Reubens, and more.

Decorate cupcakes, cookies, and make St. Patrick’s day themed crafts like magnets, ornaments, and more at the Trolley Stop Market this St. Paddy’s day. There will be prizes, a family friendly film showing, and beer and pizza available for the parents! Admission is $5. Call 901-526-1361 or email trolleystopmarket@live.com to make your reservation.

Join Tin Roof on Beale Street for an all day celebration! Live music and DJ’s will be featured throughout the day to go along with food and drink deals. And don’t forget, Green Beer will be available as well!

Enjoy this St. Patrick’s Day original interactive mystery by Memphis mystery writer Phyllis Appleby, a 3 course pasta dinner, and support Compassion Neighborhood Clinic. Tickets are $40 per person, which includes dinner and show. The event will also have a silent auction, wine and beer for purchase, and prizes.

Join Harpo’s to enjoy the perfect event to let loose and hang with friends in a safe and controlled environment. In honor of St. Patrick’s Day, themed specials such as Shamrock Jell-O shot shooters, Evergreen party punch, and more will be available all night!

Join Brass Door for an all day celebration of St. Patrick’s Day. The morning will begin with a breakfast, followed by Ireland vs. England competing in Rugby. Later, they will have soccer and rugby skills contests for charity, bagpipers, Irish dancers, DJs, raffles, and an official ‘Blessing of the Kegs’ by Fr. Auggie of St. Peter’s Catholic Church. After 12 pm, there will be a $10 cover charge, and kids will not be allowed in after 6 pm. Be sure to make it for an authentic Irish party!

Join Memphis Irish Society/Cooper-Young for their St. Patrick’s Day Parade! Featuring bands, dancers, horses, vehicles, marching units, celebrities, and much more, it’s sure to be a good time for the whole family.

While you may be aware that overheating dryers or ovens can cause fires, you might think dishwashers are safe because they have water. And water puts out fires…right? Wrong! Dishwasher fires can be caused by liquids coming into contact with the machine’s wires. Serious damage can occur when fires are ignited in dishwashers. According to a 25-year veteran of the New York City Fire Department, any appliance that powers a motor, heating element, or both always has a higher risk for fire - and dishwashers are a common example. He advises that they never be turned on when going to sleep or leaving the home.

Jars and other glass objects

Per survivalists, one of the best ways to start a fire is to use a piece of glass to refract sunlight onto dry wood. Without proper care, that same scientific process can happen on your own kitchen table. In 2015 a fire broke out in a southwest London home because of sun rays reflecting through an empty Nutella jar, the Associated Press reported. While it may seem to be a freakish way for a fire to start, the fire brigade’s investigative unit confirmed that the glass jar was to blame. The chances of this happening in your home are slim, but it is important to remember to never store flammable liquids like gasoline, cleaning fluids, paint thinners and even cooking oils in glass jars that you intend to leave out in the sunlight. Metal cans for commercial-use flammable liquids and plastic containers for things such as cooking oils are safer options.

Rodents

Small rodents like squirrels and rats like to burrow into your attic insulation in cold weather and chew anything they can get their teeth on, including rubber covered electrical lines. Unfortunately, if electrical wires become exposed dud to their protective insulation being compromised, there is a likelihood of igniting a flame. The key to preventing this from happening is to keep the critters out to begin with. Before winter season, make sure all vents are covered, holes are patched and cracks are sealed.

Laptops

If you have ever had your laptop computer in your, well, lap for an extended period of time, you know that they get hot. Because of this, it is a bad idea to leave one sitting on a flammable surface such as bedding, furniture or carpet. But the real culprit behind laptop fires is the lithium in the batteries. A poorly made battery can overheat and burst into flames. Last year the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 smartphones were recalled because they were catching on fire and it was the lithium batteries that were the problem. Any device powered by lithium ion batteries should be shut off when not in use and stored away from any flammable items.

On March 4th Indie Memphis and the Commercial Appeal will present the Red Carpet Party, an Academy Awards watch party at Rec Room. Make your predictions and see if you can beat the CA’s John Beifuss and your fellow party-goers to win prizes and raise funds for Indie Memphis!

Every homeowner wants to make sure they maximize their financial reward when selling their home. But how do you guarantee that you receive the maximum value for your house?

Here are two keys to ensure that you get the highest price possible.

1. Price it a LITTLE LOW

This may seem counterintuitive, but let’s look at this concept for a moment. Many homeowners think that pricing their homes a little OVER market value will leave them with room for negotiation. In actuality, this just dramatically lessens the demand for your house (see chart below).

Instead of the seller trying to ‘win’ the negotiation with one buyer, they should price it so that demand for the home is maximized. By doing this, the seller will not be fighting with a buyer over the price but will instead have multiple buyers fighting with each other over the house.

Realtor.com gives this advice:

“Aim to price your property at or just slightly below the going rate. Today’s buyers are highly informed, so if they sense they’re getting a deal, they’re likely to bid up a property that’s slightly under priced, especially in areas with low inventory.”

2. Use a Real Estate Professional

This, too, may seem counterintuitive. The seller may think they would make more money if they didn’t have to pay a real estate commission. With this being said, studies have shown that homes typically sell for more money when handled by a real estate professional.

A study by Collateral Analytics, reveals that FSBOs don’t actually save any money, and in some cases may be costing themselves more, by not listing with an agent.

In the study, they analyzed home sales in a variety of markets in 2016 and the first half of 2017. The data showed that:

“FSBOs tend to sell for lower prices than comparable home sales, and in many cases below the average differential represented by the prevailing commission rate.”

The results of the study showed that the differential in selling prices for FSBOs when compared to MLS sales of similar properties is about 5.5%. Sales in 2017 suggest the average price was near 6% lower for FSBO sales of similar properties.

Bottom Line

Price your house at or slightly below the current market value and hire a professional. This will guarantee that you maximize the price you get for your house.

It is a seller's market in real estate this year and with spring around the corner, the competition for homes is likely to get even more fierce. If you are looking to purchase a home right now, chances are you may find yourself in a bidding war. Be prepared! Here are six ways to come out on top in a bidding war:

- Get your finances in order and get as much cash as you can. It is never too soon to get pre-approved for a loan. In fact, the sooner the better. Sellers will have lots of options and will be leery of those who do not have loans set in stone. If possible, bring cash to the table. Sellers will fear appraisals coming in low and loans falling through, so be prepared to cover the difference with cash.

- Don’t hesitate! Be the first to make an offer, and make it a good one. An insulting offer will put you at the bottom of the seller’s list, so it is not a good time to low ball. Come in at or slightly below asking price so that they know you are serious about purchasing their home.

- Have an escalation clause in your offer. This is the amount of money the buyer agrees to increase the offer if there are other bids. If you offer the asking price of $400,000 on a house, but it might sell for $450,000, put in an escalation clause stating that you are willing to go as high as $460,000. But know your limit. Don’t offer more than you can handle. Also, make sure the clause states that the seller can only take the winning bid up to a level just above the competing offers. For example, if an offer comes in for $430,000, your bid would be upped to $431,000.

- Get a pre-inspection. It will cost you a few hundred dollars, but it can help you in a super-tight market. If you can make a bid that is not contingent upon inspection, sellers will look favorably on your offer versus the same offer from someone who has a contingency in their contract.
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- Show the love! If you have found the perfect house and know you love it, don’t be afraid to let the sellers know, either directly or through your Realtor. You can write a letter, send pictures of your family or even make a video describing why you love the house so much. Be specific in your praise. Sellers may appreciation the connection you feel with the house and choose you over other bidders.​

- Think with your head, not your heart. Be smart! Purchasing a home is an emotional decision, but emotions can get in the way of making wise decisions. Make sure you have done thorough research of the market: look at the most recent comparable sales, compare prices from a year ago, visit local school, have coffee at the closest café and speak to potential neighbors. Look at listings nearby. Whatever you do, don’t overpay because you get caught up in the heat of the competition. While the house may seem perfect for you, it is not the only house that will be perfect for you. So, keep a level head and make intelligent decisions.

Melissa Thompson is an experienced, professional Realtor who can help you through the negotiations involved in a bidding war. Give her a call at 901-756--8900 and start your home search today!